Matters of the Heart: Contents

Introduction:

New Heart (Ezekiel) Heart not of stone. Heart of flesh.

Tithe is an act of obedience and a blessing for you and others. Follow your purpose, over your passion. When you pursue your purpose over your passion, you will no longer be interested in what money can buy because you will be pursuing your God given purpose, which is to glorify Him. Tithe helps you not have distracting devotions and to focus on serving God alone! Treasure only God.

Matters of the Heart: Divided heart or mind by giving it all to Jesus. Thoughts only for God.

Today…

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What is planted in here, grows out there. What grows out there, is planted in here.

Garden Simulator: Are you playing games inspired by gardening. Get rare seeds. Rare seeds never come back around. You can only get it during a certain time in the game. See things grow. So it is like our garden outside? Yes, it is….and you don’t have to pull weeds!

What we treasure is connected to the heart.

What we think is connected to the heart.

What we say is connected to the heart.

Luke 6:43–45 ESV

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

[Remember the context] of this sermon by Jesus. [Hold Bible and Turn Back] Go reference back to the beginning of the sermon on the mount and emphasize the common themes.

Fasting. Praying. Giving/Money. Mind. All of this is a challenge to be totally devoted to God. And here we have the metaphor of the tree adding another layer to this total devotion to God.

Foundational Ideas:

No good tree bears bad fruit. No bad tree bears good fruit.

(inverse statement)

(farmers, vineyards, everyday person gets this…etc.)

(what things impact whether a tree bears good or bad fruit? Pests, Fungus, Quantity of Water, Quantity of Light)

Good and bad trees are influenced by outside influences. Outside influences like good tree: is not a tree that had a pest, fungus, or set back)

(Define good or bad) - a tree defined as good or bad by the condition or value or usefulness of their fruit. (Edible, Reproduction, Beauty)

This foundational principle is to be applied to life…no good tree bears bad fruit and no bad tree bears good fruit. A bad tree doesn’t have the ability to bear good fruit. Maybe it doesn’t have the right nutrients. Maybe it’s xylem and phloem are all damaged on the inside. Maybe there is a cut off somewhere. The tree is broken. IT doesn’t have what it needs or it is not in the condition to grow good fruit.

What is planted in here, grows out there. What grows out there, is planted in here.

A tree is known by its own fruit.

Known by fruit that comes forth from its own branches.

Someone might look at a field of trees 90 oranges and 10 apple. And say that is a field of orange trees at first glance. But if you take a look around you very clearly know what type of tree is which.

You might look at someone who is around someone good and initially thing they are good. But if you spend a little time, you will notice the fruit and know the difference.

Someone may even look at you and believe you are bad because of an incident that you did. But if they spend a little time with you, they will know you by your fruit, not the fruit of an incident. The fruit of your life.

Fruit is not an incident. Fruit is a pattern. Fruit doesn’t happen over night. IT happens over time. IT takes time. And it starts in the soil and on the inside and eventually buds out of the vines, branches, and your life.

Dormant seasons. May be times where God wants someone or something to go through a season to learn to trust Him more.

That is the beautiful thing about this metaphor and sermon of Jesus. Jesus wants to be planted in your heart and finding nourishment in HIM!

What is planted in here, grows out there. What grows out there, is planted in here.

What the heart is full shows up in our words.

(what is planted down here, grows out there)

Practical External Steps:

Pray

Be quick to listen (Listen and Think and Process) and slow to speak.

Use gracious and kind language, even during disagreements or giving constructive criticism. Choosing words that build others up.

It were better to speak six words in the power of the Holy Ghost than to preach seventy years of sermons without the Spirit.

Charles Spurgeon

James describes what grows out here.

James 3:2–11 ESV

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Application:

Matter of the Heart is all about what is being planted down here…what are you planting down here? What are you allowing to be planted down here? Who are you allowing access down here?

If your words are (negative, sports, drama, gossip, mean-spirited, family, desires, hobbies, nature, tv, politics, bible, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit), that is evidence that something is planted in your heart. Because what is planted down here grows out here.

Addressing the root causes of negative speech involves examine the heart and seeking to align IT with GOd’s desires.

Is God and His Word and His Ways planted in your heart?

What fruit are you bearing? (Not the incidents, the patterns)